By Paul Freary
ASICS design philosophy respects the Japanese principle of ‘kaizen’, continuous improvement, and so, with the Novablast 5, they have tried to reflect this principle.
The shoe has developed from top to bottom with a new foam for the midsole and upper design.
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From the first version of the NOVABLAST, the shoe proved to be an instant hit with runners. It offers a lightweight package of cushioning that handles any speed with ease.
Stats
ASICS | Novablast 5 |
|---|---|
Best for | Everyday training at any speed |
Support | Neutral |
Cushion | Max-cushioned |
Stack Height | 41.5mm Heel /33.5mm Forefoot |
Drop | 8mm |
Weight | Men 255g (9oz) Women 225 g (7.9oz) |
Suggested Retail Price | £135 / $140 |
Fit | True to size |
Rating | 9/ 10 |
Fit
The fit of the ASICS NOVABLAST 5 is true to size in both length and width, and I found my usual size, UK9.5, to be a great fit.
Similar to the Nike Pegasus Premium that I have recently tried, the upper, which suited my foot shape perfectly, is a little ‘pointed’ or taped around the toes. With this in mind, some may struggle, so it will be important to try first. You can see the shape of the toe box in my video review here.
The engineered Jacquard mesh is light and breathable, and there’s neat, plush padding in the ankle collar and Achilles heel tab.
The laces use a very neat loop system and sit neatly against the instep of the foot.
Tech
FF BLAST MAX
This midsole foam was first seen on the Glideride Max model and now sees its way to the new NOVABLAST 5. FF Blast Max offers around 8.5% more energy return than the midsole of the NOVABLAST 4, and this new model is the only shoe in the ASICS current range that uses the foam in the whole midsole.
Jacquard Mesh upper
The NOVABLAST 5 uses a new Jacquard mesh upper. Rather than the woven upper of the NOVABLAST 4, the new design means better breathability and takes some of its styling cues from the Superblast model, with a similar tongue and upper padding.
The upper has a degree of natural ‘stretch’ built into it, so it creates a great fit and holds the foot well
Performance
The first thing I noticed about the new NOVABLAST 5 was the midsole. The new FF Blast Max foam feels a little firmer than the previous model, and the geometry has changed.
We now have a slightly wider footprint to the shoe, and the angular styling on the medial and lateral aspects of the midsole is a little less ‘chiselled’ into the foam.
In the previous models of the NOVABLAST, I always felt a little unstable, with the soft midsole foam, narrow base and concave nature of the sidewalls of the midsole all contributing to the instability.
Okay, this is a lightweight, neutral model, but I just felt it was too soft for my needs.
The NOVABLAST 5 feels instantly more stable, and the new foam plays a major part in that. The ride is still plush and has more than enough cushioning for me; it’s simply a little firmer than before. All this said, I’d still classify the NOVABLAST 5 as one of the softest daily trainers around. It’s now a Goldilocks shoe, sitting perfectly in the middle of not too soft and not too firm!
Early Miles
From the word go, the NOVABLAST 5 has a perfectly welcoming ride. My easy jog felt very natural in the shoe, and I was soon enjoying the smooth rolling geometry of the shoe.
As I mentioned previously, the foam is great, managing to hit a real sweet spot with the softness required to soak up every step, but enough feedback to make the ride feel energised.
The newly designed geometry has a trampoline-like feel, particularly noticeable in the forefoot. The midsole groves isolate the forefoot cushioning in the centre of the shoe and really give it a nice toe-off spring.
Tempo Pace
On my next runs at tempo pace, the shoe responded perfectly and as expected. It provided exactly what was required for picking up the pace: a nice smooth ride that responded well on toe-ff and felt springy in a very controlled manner.
Okay, the shoe doesn’t have racing shoe energy return like spring, but for a daily trainer, it’s tuned just about right!
An interval session on the treadmill provided further evidence to me that this was a great allrounder. I’ve been running a few ‘split pace’ sessions recently where I’ll run half a mile at a faster-than-marathon pace, immediately going to a slightly slower-than-marathon pace for the next half mile. This type of workout provides a great tester for a shoe.
As I switched from a more forefoot-striking fast pace down to the recovery pace, the shoe settled nicely and switching pace never felt like an effort.
Comparisons
Comparison shoes for the NOVABLAST 5 are a little tricky. The NOVABLAST 5 is a lightweight, responsive trainer that is capable of picking up the pace without any issues. It’s also a neutral, unplated model, so many shoes that came to mind when I began to think of similar options from other brands actually had plates in them. They may not be carbon-plated alternatives, but nevertheless, they were plated.
Mizuno Neo Vista
The Mizuno Neo Vista is a little more unstable than the NOVABLAST 5, and in that respect, it is perhaps a little closer feeling to the NOVABLAST 4. The Mizuno would edge it for me in terms of out-and-out performance and for faster-paced running, but perhaps for more general, steadier miles, I’d go with the ASICS.
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 might be the closest competitor to the NOVABLAST 5. It features the brand’s more speed-orientated foam, FuelCell, in this model with a PEBA mix to the compound.
The Rebel is a soft, cushioned and responsive model designed for regular use at a faster pace. I’m sure many will use the Rebel as a daily trainer, where I would maybe limit it to purely tempo or interval sessions. It has a deep enough stack of cushioning for regular use; I simply like to mix up my shoes and keep some models for easy miles and some for faster pace work.
The Rebel feels a little softer than the NOVABLAST 5, but with that, the familiar issue of stability becomes apparent. Both shoes are similarly priced, but I’d go with the New Balance for faster runs and the ASICS for more all-around use.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
From Saucony, the Endorphin Speed 4 would be a similar candidate for daily use, a fast-feeling shoe. Again, I reserve my Speed 4 for faster miles only, but I know many runners love them for daily miles.
The Endorphin does feature a nylon plate, and that gives it more toe-off than the NOVABLAST 5, but it is a little more expensive, and I think the NOVABLAST 5 will prove to be more durable if used regularly.
My Verdict
The ASICS NOVABLAST 5 is the best version of the NOVABLAST to date. For me, the new foam makes the shoe a game changer and a much more versatile model that an even wider range of people will feel more at home with.
The improved cushioning, stability and responsive ride make it a perfect candidate for a one-shoe solution to all your running needs.
It is a very competitively priced shoe, too, which again will greatly improve its chances in the very competitive running shoe market.
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